The One Who Looking
I kept picking up bones and placing them on the pile. Slowly I reached the bottom and there was nothing left. I didn't want to look at him so I turned to the side and started digging again. The hole quickly got deeper until it hit the ground level. I looked down into the hole. There he was, his eyes open wide in surprise as if he had just woken from a terrible nightmare. He opened his mouth to speak but before any sound could escape he fell over and lay motionless.
You are now standing next to the pile of bones you have dug out. You reach into your pocket for some matches or a lighter but find nothing inside.
"Now what?" I said aloud. "Where did all my money go? It must be here somewhere." I searched through the pockets of the dead man's coat. Nothing.
I searched his trousers. Nothing. Then there was a sudden gust of wind that blew away from me and brought something with it; a piece of paper fluttered down onto the ground near where I stood, then another followed by yet another. They were scraps of paper that had been ripped off envelopes.
This wasn't good. After reading them all I finally understood what they meant:
Dear Mr. Dutton,
Please let us know when you will be able to come to our office to sign the paperwork needed to finalize this transaction. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs. Loomis
The Duttons
(P.S.: No need to rush. Take all the time you like.)
From: Mr. & Mrs. Loomis
Dearest Benji,
We miss you terribly. Please don't forget about us. We hope to see you soon.
Love, Mom and Dad
From: Mrs. Rainsworth
Ben,
Have you heard from Ben lately? I can't wait to hear how things are going for him.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Rainsworth
From: Missy Wooten
Ben,
Your mother told me you were thinking of coming home for Christmas. I think that would be wonderful! Call me when you get a chance. Love,
Missy Wooten
From: Mrs. Rainsworth
Dear Ben,
Sorry about what happened yesterday. I'll do anything within my power to help you.
Love,
Mom
From: Mrs. Rainsworth
Dear Ben,
I'm sorry if I was too hard on you today. It's just that I worry so much about you.
Love,
Mom
From: Missy Wooten
Ben,
I've moved to New York. Now that we're apart, please write to me.
Love,
Missy Wooten
From: Mrs. Rainsworth
Dear Ben,
It's four months since you went away to school. I hope everything is well with you.
Love,
Mom
A quick search of the corpse reveals a wallet containing a driver's license which reads:
Benjamin Franklin Dutton
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 155 lb.
Blood Type: A-
Mood: Indifferent
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Blonde
City of Birth: Chicago
State of Birth: Illinois
Occupation: Student
Signature: B.F.D
The corpse also contains $2,000 in cash and a set of keys.
There is also a small notebook lying on top of the corpse. It is covered in notes and sketches. These are apparently the works of Dr. Henry Albright, the creator of the mysterious "Death Mask".
Using the key, you unlock the door leading east.
The bedroom is empty. The closet holds two suits and a few other items of clothing. There is also a large canvas bag hanging from the inside of the closet.
You take the canvas bag out of the closet. It is filled with a number of objects:
- An old pair of glasses
- A bottle of ink
- A metal box with a lock inside it
- A skeleton key
- A canister of charcoal
- A book entitled "The Art of Mummification"
- A knife
- A bone needle
- A vial of embalming fluid
- Two human teeth
You take the skeleton key and open the metal box. Inside is a mask made from a skull. It has a dark red lining around the inside of the eye sockets. When you turn the knob at the back, the mask begins to glow softly.
You put the mask on your face. There is a flash of light, then you feel a strange tingling sensation wash over you and suddenly you are somewhere else.
You are now standing in a large, brightly lit room. You are wearing the Death Mask. The walls are lined with bookshelves, full of volumes ranging from ancient scrolls to modern novels. Along the south wall there is an easel and a chair. On the north wall is a painting of a woman holding a violin. She wears long flowing robes and her hair falls to the floor in a thick braid.
On the west wall, opposite the painting, is a small desk which holds a typewriter and several sheets of paper.
In front of the desk lies a figure wrapped in bandages. Although he cannot move very much, you can tell that it's him because of his distinctive green eyes.
"Hello," says the Green Eyed Boy. "My name is Benjamin Franklin Dutton. I am the son of the late Alexander Dutton who founded the Dutton Corporation. It seems that my father built this place as a sort of retreat to spend time away from his work. Unfortunately, I never got to meet him. What an unfortunate thing that turned out to be. My father was murdered shortly after I graduated high school and I was blamed for the murder.
That is why I live here now.
But enough about me.
Let's talk about you."
"What do you mean?" asks the Green Eyed Boy.
"That is what I want you to tell me," replies the masked man. "Tell me your name and why you are here."
"My name is Benjamine Hargrove," says the Green Eyed Boy. "I came here looking for answers."
"And what, exactly, do you think the answers are? What do you think happened to your father?"
"All I know is that he was killed by the ghost of some kind. And that, of course, means that I am next."
"Ghosts aren't real, Benjamine.
I'm not sure where you've been getting your information but ghosts don't exist. There is only one truth and that's what I'll show you right now."
He takes the book out of his jacket pocket and opens it to a page marked by a yellow ribbon. On the page is a sketch of a skull. Beneath it, written in black ink, is a single word:
Doubt.
"You see this drawing of a skull?" he asks. "This is the truth, Benjamine. This is what happens when a person dies. His soul is trapped in the form of his body, bound by its flesh. If he died a violent death, his soul will be stuck inside the skull forever. Here is the way to free him: you must kill yourself."
The Green Eyed Boy looks up at the masked man. "Why should I believe you?" he says.
"Because I know the truth," replies the man. "I know how to end the suffering of men and women across the world. I am the answer to the question you have been searching for."
"How?" asks the Green Eyed Boy.
"By giving them peace," says the masked man. "They need not fear their deaths. Just follow me and I will show you the way."
Before leaving this room, the Green Eyed Boy takes a last look around.
He picks up the violin case lying on the table next to his easel and puts it into his pocket. Then he turns and heads towards the door.
"Wait!" cries the masked man. "If you leave now, I won't be able to guide you. You have to stay and listen to everything I say to you tonight. For without you, I cannot succeed."
As he speaks he reaches behind himself and pulls out a small wooden box which he places on the desk.
He opens it and produces a single key. It fits perfectly into the lock of the metal box. He picks up the small box and replaces it underneath his shirt.
"Forgive me, Benjamine," he says. "But if you do not join my cause, then I shall be unable to save your soul."
"I understand," replies the Green Eyed Boy. "So what do we do now?"
"First we begin with a demonstration," says the masked man. He pulls out an envelope from his pocket and hands it to Benjamine.
"What's this?" asks Benjamine.
"Open it," replies the masked man.
Benjamine looks at the envelope doubtfully, then opens it and finds a letter inside. On the outside is written:
Dear Benjamine,
I know that you are curious about my father's disappearance, but you mustn't ask questions. This is all very confidential.
Please forgive me for asking such a thing of you, but I think that if you could find out more about what happened to him, then perhaps you might be able to learn the secret of mummification.
When you arrive at the University of Chicago, please speak to Professor Albright. Ask him about his research and he may even be willing to share some details with you.
Please try not to worry about me. I'll be fine. And please don't forget about me. I love you, Mom and Dad
Love,
Mom
From: Missy Wooten
Dear Ben,
I'm sorry about what happened yesterday.